A Place for Great Cinema
Summary: During the First World War, the French military orders a court-martial accusing soldiers of cowardice after an attack on an enemy position fails. Spoilers It is a truism in … Continue reading Paths of Glory (1957) Stanley Kubrick
Summary: A jury deliberates in a murder trial of a teenager accused of killing his father. Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men is a remarkable piece of cinema in spite of … Continue reading 12 Angry Men (1957) – Sidney Lumet (Niall McArdle)
The first film to be directed by John Cassavetes, Shadows, was perhaps the start of what we now know as American independent cinema. Shadows was groundbreaking at the time of … Continue reading Shadows (1959) – Living in the Shadows, by Darrell Ron Tuffs
Cyd Charisse. Marilyn Monroe. Jane Russell. Donna Reed. Deborah Kerr. Hollywod had an array of beautiful women on-screen in 1953, each in their own way wordly and sexy. But it … Continue reading Roman Holiday (1953) – William Wyler (Niall McArdle)
A stubborn police lieutenant is determined to break up a crime syndicate ruled by a vicious gangster.
A young social climber moves into town to work for his uncles company only to find his aspirations of ascending to the upper class to be in jeopardy by an … Continue reading A Place in the Sun (1951) – George Stevens (Mardaweh Tompo)
A depiction of life on a Navy supply vessel, based in the South Pacific during the latter half of World War 2.
A skeevey curmudgeon is given an opportunity to change his vile ways when he is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve: the spirit of his former business partner Jacob … Continue reading A Christmas Carol | Scrooge (1951) – Brian Desmond Hurst (Eric Norcross)
Synopsis: A neglected young boy in Paris is sent to reform school for petty thievery.
Top 100 position – Joint 93rd Short Plot Summary: Aspiring actress Lora Meredith meets Annie Johnson a homeless black woman at Coney Island and soon they share a tiny apartment. … Continue reading Imitation of Life (1959) – Douglas Sirk (Sight & Sound Critic Poll Series)
Synopsis: A Madison Avenue ad executive, Roger Thornhill, is mistaken by enemy spies as CIA agent George Kaplan, a man who doesn’t even exist. Or, as the publicity had it, … Continue reading North by Northwest (1959) – Alfred Hitchcock (Guest post from Niall McArdle)
Top 100 position – Joint 93rd Short Plot Summary: In France of the late 19th century, the wife of a wealthy general, the Countess Louise, sells the earrings her husband … Continue reading Madame de… (1953) Max Ophüls (Sight & Sound Critic Poll Series)
A World of Film 